IDA RSVP

Checking on older adults especially crucial during severely cold weather Wednesday, December 21 marks the official start of winter, but many parts of Arkansas have already experienced extreme cold during the holidays. Especially for older adults, severely cold weather can be potentially dangerous—or deadly.

We'd like to announce the official release of our new Dementia Resource Guide! A diagnosis or symptoms of dementia is overwhelming. Often, people are not sure where to turn for support. This guide was created to help point people living with dementia and their caregivers to the available resources in Iowa. It is organized by topics related to dementia and caregiving.

View or download the full guide here: https://dementiafriendlyiowa.org/iowa-dementia-resource-guide/

Dementia Friendly Iowa, the Area Agencies on Aging and the Iowa Department on Aging have collaborated on this exciting project.

Milestones is looking for a few "angels" to help deliver senior meals this holiday season. Volunteers are needed throught our 17 counties, but we currently have a pressing need in Scott and Clinton counites. As little as 2 hours/per week can make a tremendous difference in the lives of older Iowans. If interested, please email us at [email protected], or message us through this page. Thank you!

Are you interested in becoming a dementia-friendly community? Join Megan Zimmerman, Dementia Friendly State Coordinator on Zoom on Monday, November 14 from 12 p.m. -1 p.m. to learn more during a FAQ session. Register for the session here: https://nei3a-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpcOipqTkpH9AJPpVCzqEBpZk078Q4HUAT

The USDA has released their report: Household Food Security in the United States in 2021. Food insecurity increased for older adults living alone from 8.3% in 2020 to 9.5% in 2021. About 22.4% of all food-insecure households included older adults. Food insecurity prevalence in Iowa households (7%) is below the national average (10.4%) and has declined since 2009. Find a link to the full report and the report summary here.

Household Food Security in the United States in 2021 In 2021, 10.2 percent (13.5 million) of U.S. households were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time during the year providing enough food for all their members because of a lack of resources.

LGBT adults over age 50 face unique challenges. They are 2x as likely to be single and live alone and 4x less likely to have children. If you are an older person in need of support from the LGBTQ community, visit OneIowa's website for additional resources.

LGBTQ Older Adults - One Iowa Many older LGBTQ Iowans face unique challenges with isolation, discrimination, and often struggle to access services. Our staff and advisory council are hard at work to change that.

The Iowa Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) seeks input from people around the state who have disabilities. This feedback is used to develop the Statewide Plan for Independent Living (SPIL). The survey will take most people 15 – 20 minutes to complete. It is completely anonymous. Access the survey at the link below.

Public Input Strengthen the voice of Iowans with disabilities

Are you...
-Hoping to see your town or county become recognized as the next dementia friendly community in Iowa?
-Feeling a little stuck in the process?
-Interested in learning more about the initiative in general?
-Seeking some inspiration for actions you could take in your community?

The Becoming a Dementia Friendly Community: FAQ Session might be for you! Join Megan Zimmerman, Dementia Friendly State Coordinator on Zoom on Monday, November 14 from 12-1pm to learn more. Register for the session here: https://nei3a-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpcOipqTkpH9AJPpVCzqEBpZk078Q4HUAT

Thank you to The Ottumwa Courier and the Bridge View Center for hosting the 2022 Senior Expo Event! Christina and MaKayla represented IDA RSVP and engaged with some of Wapello and Mahaska Counties finest aging individuals.

If you missed the Expo this year- be on the look out for next years date! This event is great for aging individuals as well as caregivers!

Julie and Christina had the pleasure of volunteering for WesleyLife Meals on Wheels this morning. Every day is a beautiful day to volunteer, but we really enjoyed the sunshine and nice weather today!